Theories/Theorists

Proximity Maintenance (Bowlby)

Desire to be near the people to whom we are attached

Safe Haven (Bowlby)

Returning to the attachment figure for comfort and safety in the face of a fear or threat

Secure Base (Bowlby)

Point of security (usually the mother) from which the child can explore the surrounding environment without fear of abandonment.

Separation Distress (Bowlby)

Anxiety that occurs in the absence of the attachment figure

Assimilation

One of two forms of adaptation in Piaget’s cognitive development. Fitting new information in with existing ideas/concepts

Accommodation

One of two forms of adaptation in Piaget’s cognitive development. Creating new ideas/concepts or changing existing ones to accommodate new information.

Sensorimotor stage

Piaget’s first stage of development. 1-2 yrs. Infants use sensory and motor skills to understand the world

Preoperational Stage

Piaget’s second stage of development. 2-7 yrs. Children use symbols and language to represent objects. 

Concrete operational stage

Piaget’s third stage of development. 7-11yrs. Develops inductive reasoning and logic.

Formal operations

Piaget’s fourth and final stage of development. 11yrs-Adulthood. Develop abstract thought, deductive reasoning, ability to draw conclusions

Infant Attachment (Rene Spitz)

infants separated from their caregivers often experience social withdrawal, weight loss, sleeplessness, delayed psychomotor development, increased physical ailments, and increased rigidity

Important psychological developments for infants (Rene Spitz)

smiling response, stranger anxiety, semantic communication

Object relations (Margaret Mahler)

The process by which infants struggle to differentiate between the self and non self (other)

Normal (“Autism”) Stage (Margaret Mahler)

1st stage, Birth to 1 month: Child primarily responds to internal stimuli, differentiating between pleasant and unpleasant feelings occurs

Symbiosis/Normal Symbiotic Stage (Margaret Mahler)

2nd stage, 1 to 4 months. Infant attachment to caregiver, no sense of individuality, good match between infant and caregiver

Separation and Individuation Stage (Margaret Mahler)

3rd stage, 4 to 36 months. Children develop their own ego, sense of identity, and cognitive abilities. Divided into four substages.

Differentiation from Mother (Margaret Mahler)

4 to 8 months. First substange of Separation/Individuation, child recognizes itself as separate from their caregiver

Practicing (Margaret Mahler)

8 to 15 months, 2nd substage of Separation/Individuation stage, increased motor ability, alternates between moving away from and returning to mother

Rapprochement (Margaret Mahler)

15 to 24 months, 3rd substage of Separation/Individuation, infants efforts at autonomous function, physical mobility and psychological separation from caregiver

Achievement of Individuality (Margaret Mahler)

24 to 36 months, Final substage of Separation/Individuation, caregiver is now seen as separate, others are perceived as separate and relational. Development of individual identity and object constancy

Personality Development (Alfred Adler)

Human beings begin in a state of inadequacy and have a basic drive toward self actualization. Birth order of children has a significant impact on their personality.

William Glasser (Reality Therapy)

All behavior is purposeful and originates from within the person. Humans have innate needs, and the brain works to fulfill those needs

Human Psychological Needs (William Glasser)

Belonging, Power, Freedom, Fun

Nurturing system (Chestang)

Consists of an individual’s family, friends and the immediate community

Sustaining system (Chestang)

Institutions/systems that make up the larger society

Operant conditioning

Uses reinforcers to condition voluntary behaviors

Classical conditioning

Uses reinforcers to associate involuntary behaviors with stimuli

Preconventional Morality (Kohlberg)

Focuses on individual perspective (avoiding punishment, quid pro quo)

Conventional Morality (Kohlberg)

Member of society perspective (receive approval from others, maintaining law and order)

Postconventional Morality (Kohlberg)

Autonomous level (moral behavior in line with individual’s conscience and ethical principles)